One of the major things I like about this book might be a major spoiler so I am having a hard time talking about it! But anyways, did you like the Selection? Or did you not like the Selection because its badly written but found the concept intriguing so you hate read the whole thing? EITHER WAY: You might like this.

Its fun! Its better written than The Selection! It has fae being sketchy as hell and creepy bargains and cruel competitions. It has a totally fine central character but a pretty great romance storyline. It has twists and turns that had me surprised with where it was going. Especially with something that again, I don't know if its a spoiler so I can't talk about it but was interesting!

Anyways, I liked this one. It was what I want out of YA fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book and i can't wait to see where the author goes in the future with their writing.

WHEWWWW I flew through this one! I finished it within 24 hours, the plot was that addicting.

"The Rose Bargain" is set in London in the 1800's where when you turn 18, you can make a bargain with the Queen (who is fae and also stole the kingdom hundreds of years prior) where she will grant you a wish, but at a cost. Only this year, her 18 year old son (Fae Prince) is entering society to find a wife. With this, there are new stakes and a pool of girls join in a "The Bachelor" type of situation to attempt to win the prince's heart. Our FMC, Ivy, has nothing to lose and joins in hopes to right some wrongs with her family.

This book was addicting from start to finish! My main complaint is that the dialogue was lacking and did not read like you would expect 1800's London high society. It was quite modern. Also, some of the characters were cringe at times. Other than that, I loved every second of it. It was messsssyyyy omg

Tropes to expect:
Forbidden love
Love triangle
Betrayals
One bed

Okay also I had NO IDEA that it was going to be a series?!?! I got to the end and was shocked beyond belief for it to end on a cliffhanger. I will be anxiously awaiting the sequel's release.

Thank you, HarperCollins and NetGalley, for access to this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the concept of this story, very unique storyline. Which had me hooked. However after getting a quarter way through I became very frustrated and upset by the situation the main character was in with the Queen (as well as the other girls). I could understand a few trials but it just got too excessive for me to endure reading. In general I didn't like the direction the story took.

Ahhh and here I thought I didn’t like YA fantasy that much anymore! This book is described as the cruel Prince meets Bridgerton and also the selection. In this world, there is a Fae queen who is ruled for many centuries and whenever a girl turns 18 she gets to make a bargain with that queen. We are following our main character Ivy, who’s older sister made a bargain that she can’t remember and she has gone missing for two weeks and can’t remember where she was during that time. Ivy‘s goal is to figure out what happened with her sister and then when she goes to make her bargain with the queen she finds out that the queen’s son the prince is going to find a bride this season. So Ivy, along with some other girls sign up to compete for the prints. Ivy does not have to do this alone as the younger prince vowed to help her be chosen to be princess.
I have traditionally not love trial books anymore because they’re so repetitive and the feel so similar. I did not have that problem with this book and I also love how the Fea were handled. Because again the Faye is becoming a very slightly overdone plot point and so whenever it’s done differently it’s done so well. This really feels like an older type of fantasy book that you might’ve read when you were a kid. This book does kinda get left on a cliffhanger and I really hope that this just turns out to be a douogly because I feel like that would be the perfect length for the series.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

I really did enjoy this one quite a bit.
Queen Mor has reigned and ruled England up to four centuries now. As a Faerie and former Queen of the Otherworld. England is ruled through bargains. In exchange for something you must give of yourself, she will grant your wish. Although be careful what you ask for, the prince may be too steep.

The daughters of nobility make their bargains with The Queen when they are presented to society at the start of The Season. Most make bargains to make themselves more attractive prospects as wives called Rose Bargains. They're supposed to be more frivolous bargain, because what could daughters of nobility truly need?

Ivy Benton's family is in trouble, her sister disappeared during her season, father has financial problems, and now that her sister is missing, she could be ruined. She's doing to best to try to locate Lydia, but to no avail. It's like she's vanished. And now Ivy has to clench the perfect season and match to pull them back into polite society. What did Lydia bargain for?
She finds herself with a unique option. Prince Bram, Queen Mor's son from the Otherworld needs a wife.
But with all fae, they are all deceitful at heart, humans are playthings when you live forever. If you're not careful you may find yourself the entertainment.

I really did enjoy this one!
Ivy is tenacious, and finds herself competing for Bram's hand and heart. But if she loses, she will lose it all. I had a suspicion at the twist, but it didn't happen exactly the way I thought it was going to go. I'm looking forward to seeing how Ivy and Lydia handle their respective roles. I don't want to say much more than that.

This was a fantastic alternate reality England, if you like fae, The Selection or watching Bridgerton you'll probably enjoy this!

Fans of Kiera Cass’ Selection series will EAT this UP! A perfect romantasy for those newer to the genre, Smith mixes the realm of Fae with the 1800s, making this novel have a historical fiction vibe going that I LOVED. Bridgerton with a little Bachelor action. Give me some trials, a love triangle, a strong female character… I’m there.

While I did find parts of this book rushed (I mean, it’s already 400 pages, what’s another 50?), I really enjoyed it. I wish the trials portion were more fleshed out and the ending felt very rushed pacing wise. Overall, it’s a very solid first book and had me effectively hooked to need book two immediately, please!

Thank you Sasha Peyton Smith, NetGalley, and HarperCollins for the ARC of this new romantasy book out 2/4/2025!

A solid 4.5
I enjoyed The Rose Bargain, a blend of historical fiction and dark fantasy. Set in a reimagined 1840s England, the story follows Ivy Benton as she navigates a world of fae bargains and courtly intrigue.

Smith's world-building is good, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The narrative is engaging, with a balance of tension, romance, and fae magic. Ivy's relationships, particularly with her sister Lydia, are a highlight.

While the romantic subplot is sweet, it feels a bit rushed. The competition could have been expanded to heighten stakes and deepen character dynamics.

Despite some minor shortcomings, The Rose Bargain is a solid read for fantasy romance fans. With its unique premise and vivid world-building, the novel sets the stage for an exciting sequel.

Recommendation: For fans of fantasy romance, fae bargains, and courtly drama.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, Sasha Peyton Smith for providing me with this E-ARC in exchange for my review.

I loved how unique this storyline is in a sea of Romantasy books that center around the Fae! The idea of each debutante making a bargain with the Fae queen in order to secure the best match? And honestly Sasha does an amazing job at sticking to the fact that each bargain made is rotten at its core. Then you have Ivy, who loves and resents her sister at the same time but who is also willing to do anything to take care of them. She is such a well written and complex character, we get so much of her inner turmoil and explanations about her past in ways that feel perfectly balanced between showing and telling. I think she’s a great main character and can’t wait to see how her story continues.

Not to mention, the way romance and longing is woven together with humor and shocks of cruelty makes this story phenomenal. I really enjoyed how Sasha addressed the cruelty of the fae and the explanations other characters had for it because honestly it made sense and I had never thought of it that way!

This is one of those rare times when I am going to say that the synopsis on the back got the feel of this book 100% right without giving anything away. About 13% of the way into this book, I started telling my fiancé that if this book kept the momentum and vibes going that it was going to be a new bestseller. After having finished the book, I feel confident in stating that this book is going to be huge with Stephanie Garber and Holly Black fans.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review will be posted to Goodreads on 12/28/24.
My Instagram review will be posted on 12/28/24.

“The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae”

As a Cruel Prince fan I was ecstatic to pick this one up! However, I am so torn about how I feel about the book. There were a lot of good elements that captivated my attention but there were also parts where I felt that the story was dragging. The story was repetitive at times and in turn I felt myself getting distracted often. I also thought the storyline was a little hard to follow and I didn’t see as much character development as I usually enjoy.

All that being said I do think is being marketed appropriately. A lot of the blurbs mention Stephanie Garber and Holly black. I definitely see readers that enjoy books by these authors enjoying this book.

Thank you Harper Collins for the eARC!

Ivy Benton's debut season coincides with Prince Bram's search for a bride. With her family's reputation in tatters due to her older sister's fall from grace, Ivy sees the competition as a chance for redemption. The rules are clear: win Prince Bram's hand or remain unmarried. Determined to restore her family's fortunes, Ivy enters the contest.

This was a fun time and I found myself flying through the pages. Ivy’s relationship with the other girls in the competition was heartwarming and the romance was enjoyable, though I could’ve used a few more scenes with Ivy and her love interest. Their relationship felt rushed toward the end but overall I thought it was well developed.

While the overall story arc is satisfying, the ending fell flat for me and the direction the story seems to be headed in does not interest me. I will likely pick up the sequel since this is only a duology but I'm not eagerly anticipating to see what happens.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am screaming. There's no way I could not at that ending. I read and raved about this to anyone who would listen in the house - I'm pretty sure my husband thinks this is the only book I read this year because I would not stop talking about it to him.

The Rose Bargain combined a lot of my favorite things: competition, fae princes, ugly dogs, familiar obligations etc. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romantasy to dip their toes into.

Like 3.5 stars rounded up.

I’m… conflicted on this one. So this feels very inline with how I’ve felt about a lot of romantasy books lately. I like it enough to give it a solid rating but not enough to care to keep reading after book one. I didn’t like the avalanche ending - it was so abrupt and honestly, there’s no resolution. It just ends right in the middle of the conflict. Not a cliffhanger - it just legit ENDS without actually resolving anything? So fair warning, it kinda sucks because I also don’t care enough to keep going??

Here’s why: overall I liked the plot. It was pretty fun and interesting. But I wasn’t a huge fan of the main characters nor the romance. I didn’t really get any …. Romance vibes? It felt like I was told to believe these two people loved each other but I never got to actually FEEL it. They just suddenly were head over heels?? 🤨🤨🤨

I liked the side characters though, especially the other girls in the games! The best parts of this book were their individual chapters!! Such a great idea!!! I actually got sad when I had to go back to Ivy’s POV. 😂 Ivy wasn’t ideal. She was fine but didn’t really stand out much imo. I’ll forget her tomorrow.

So overall, is it worth the read? Hmmm 🧐 Tough call. I really enjoyed it until the end (which lowered it a half star) so maybe? 🤔 I think if you are fine with this book legit just ending without a good resolution, then sure. But I wasn’t happy with what felt like an “ending” right when I thought there should be 20+ more pages of action 😅

I really enjoyed this book. I read Sasha’s previous duology, Witch Haven, and loved the characters and storyline. I was excited to see a new world from her and lucky enough to receive it as an ARC.

The storyline and characters felt like it blended Bridgerton and the Powerless series - courting, 1800’s royalty and high society in London, along with trials and trying to win the hand of a prince.

The book easily held my attention with a likable FMC and the addition of other possible princesses’ chapters to give their perspective and backstory. Sasha wove in the other characters’ storylines seamlessly. The additional POV chapters added personality while not muddying or confusing the overall storyline.

There were 2 aspects of the book that really set it apart from other fae/fantasy books.
1. The added complications of the bargains given and granted by the queen.
2. The mystery of what happened to the FMC’s sister.

It was okay. I can see how Bridgerton fans would really enjoy this, but for me, it feels very low stakes and uninteresting. The story moves very slowly, despite there being plenty of action and drama, and I think it’s because the main character doesn’t reveal things or try to figure things out at all just for the sake of having a story.

This book was amazing! Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this early. This book has it all from romantasy to enemy to lovers and fae. I was impressed by the historical side of the book it’s always fun to imagine that time period especially with fantasy. I do wish it would’ve had more details and also the single chapters for the girls didn’t give enough details to understand that character growth. Besides those few issues it was a great read!

Love love loved this one! It was definitely a hunger games meets the selection with a dose of magic read. The main character joins a competition to marry the prince to help her family. Along the way she has several interaction with his broody brother in hopes to take down the evil Queen. Also, I love me a good one bed trope 💕 The world building and attention to detail was so good. I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn’t put the book down. This is going to be a great start to a wonderful series!

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is a Victorian-inspired romantasy that captivated me from the very beginning. Ivy Benton, the protagonist, is a determined and flawed character whose journey to save her family by entering a magical competition is both compelling and relatable. Her relationship with her sister, Lydia, adds depth to the narrative, highlighting themes of familial duty and self-sacrifice.

The world-building is rich and immersive, blending historical elements with a touch of magic that creates a unique and enchanting setting. The competition for Prince Bram's hand introduces intrigue and suspense, while the unexpected alliance with Prince Emmett adds complexity to the plot. The pacing is fast, and the story unfolds with twists and turns that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

While the romance subplot is present, it doesn't overshadow the main narrative, allowing Ivy's personal growth and the sisterly bond to take center stage. The inclusion of multiple perspectives provides a well-rounded understanding of the characters' motivations and enriches the storytelling.

Overall, The Rose Bargain is a delightful read for fans of fantasy romance with historical twists. Its engaging characters, intricate plot, and enchanting world make it a standout in the genre. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a story that combines magic, intrigue, and heartfelt relationships.

I loved this so much! If you love Bridgerton, definitely give this a read. It drew me in and I just ate it up!

Oh this was SO GOOD. When I read the comp of the Selection and Bridgerton I was a bit wary, because it could have been so formulaic, but I thought this story was perfect. Ivy was a great main character, vying for the crown to save her family's reputation. Both brothers were compelling, and my FAVOURITE part was the way this incorporated each other girl's POV chapter. They were all humanized, contextualized and given their own space, rather than just being a catty competition.

Amazing vibes, I can't WAIT for book 2!!